Protection of rights and identity of Romanian minority in the Republic of Serbia

Question for written answer  E-001971/2021
to the Commission
Rule 138
Ioan-Rareş Bogdan (PPE)

Article 2 of the Treaty on European Union states that the EU is founded on values such as respect for human rights, including the rights of persons belonging to minorities. The European Parliament resolution of 25 March 2021 on the 2019-2020 Commission reports on Serbia states that Serbia needs to develop an ‘irreversible track record’ in upholding and defending the values set out in Article 2 TEU.

Many accounts by Romanians in Serbia, who have been living in the southern Danube area for centuries - a minority of 300 000 people - indicate that, following the creation of present-day Serbia, they have been subjected to aggressive assimilation policies with clear undertones of ethnocide. Ethnic Romanians are being prevented from learning their mother tongue in schools and being intimidated and coerced into renouncing their culture. The Belgrade authorities are not only refusing to acknowledge Romanian ethnic identity but are subjecting the Romanian community and the Romanian Orthodox Church in Serbia to a veritable media witch-hunt, which runs directly counter to EU policies on good neighbourly relations.

What action will the Commission take to ensure that Serbia, an applicant for for EU membership, ends its witch-hunt against the Romanian s community and makes suitable provision for mother-tongue education?